2013 Uintah Basin Winter Ozone Study

2013 Uintah Basin Winter Ozone Study

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http://www.deq.utah.gov/locations/uintahbasin/studies/UBOS-2013.htm

John Horel and Erik CrosmanMountain Meteorology Group

Department of Atmospheric SciencesUniversity of Utah

[email protected]@utah.edu





mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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Researchers From:• Utah State University • National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration• Utah Department of Environmental

Quality• University of Utah • University of Colorado, Boulder• University of Wyoming • University of California Los Angeles • University of Washington

See report for researchers’ contact info








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Funding: • Uintah Impact Mitigation Special Service

District• Western Energy Alliance• Questar Energy Products• Bureau of Land Management• National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration• Environmental Protection Agency• Utah Department of Environmental

Quality• Utah Science Technology and Research

Initiative• Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands

Administration


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Background

• Current EPA standard: 75 ppb

• First measured elevated ozone: 2009 • First extensive study: 2011

• Ongoing field campaigns: 2012-2014







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Takeaway Points• Oil and gas production is large and

growing• Production releases particulates and

array of gases • When snow on ground and stable

atmosphere, ozone generated photo-chemically and trapped near ground

• Key unknowns:• Emissions• Role of ozone precursor gases, such

as nitrous acid and formaldehyde






Simulation of a Cold-Air Pool and Winter Ozone

Episode in Utah’s Uintah Basin

E. Neemann, E. Crosman, J. Horel, L. Avey

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics To be submitted

1 Feb 2 Feb 6 Feb4 Feb3 Feb 5 Feb

2014

Background - Ozone & Health

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U.S. EPA: http://www.epa.gov/apti/ozonehealth/population.html

Surface ozone is a significant health hazard to humans- Respiratory irritation and

inflammation

- Aggravated asthma

- Long-term lung damage

- Increased hospital admissions and ER visits

- Increased mortality

Winter Ozone Production

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q

ZNOx

Snow CoverVOCs

O3

• Oil and gas operations release ozone precursors: volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrous oxides (NOx)

• Pollutants trapped near surface when stable conditions aloft• Snow cover sustains cold air near surface• High albedo snow reflects sunlight back to atmosphere

enhancing photochemical reactions with ozone precursors• Leads to elevated ozone levels trapped near the surface

(Precursors)O + h O O + O2 O3

Increase in Oil and Gas Drilling in Utah

- 9,400 oil & gas producing wells in March 2014

- Over 3,600 permits for additional wells since Jan 2012

Uintah Basin

10Courtesy of Utah Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining

Emissions (Barickman 2014)

• Emission inventories for the Basin remain incomplete

• Difficult to obtain emissions data due to diverse surface and mineral rights

• VOC emissions depend on well and equipment types

• Inventory data specific to winter ozone season needed as emissions from evaporation ponds and methanol uses have large seasonal variations

Volatile Organic Compound (VOCs) by Hydroxyl (OH) reactivity measured during UBOS 2013

Roberts et al. (2014)

DuchesneRiver Green

River

WhiteRiver

Mobile Ozone Transect - 6 Feb 2013

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- High concentrations measured throughout the basin

- Greatest values in lower elevations and river valleys

NAAQS Vernal

Roosevelt

Ouray

Atmospheric Stability Aloft Traps Pollutants

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1-6 Feb 2013: Backscatter and Estimated Aerosol Depth

CLEAN AIR

POLLUTED LAYER

Elev

ation

(m)

Time ->

TempDewpoint

WARM

FOG/LOW CLOUDS

COLD

Karion et al. (2014)

Figure 4-13. Profiles of constituents measured on the aircraft on January 31 in the vicinity of the natural gas field and gas processing plants.

TempOZONE

Current EPA ozone standard violated if:

• 3-yr average of the annual calendar year 4th highest daily max 8-hr average exceeds 75 ppb

• Ozone levels in Uintah Basin over past 5 winters:2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Current EPA ozone standard violated if:

• 3-yr average of the annual calendar year 4th highest daily max 8-hr average exceeds 75 ppb


AboveAbove

AboveBelow

Below

SNOW: redNO SNOW: cyanCLOUDS: white

Current EPA ozone standard violated if:• 3-yr average of the annual

calendar year 4th highest daily max 8-hr average exceeds 75 ppb


• Which is largely controlled by extent of snow cover in basin:

WideWide

WideLitt

leLitt

le

2 Feb 2013

21 Feb 2014

AboveAbove

AboveBelow

Below

Schnell et al. (2014)

Snow in the Uintah Basin

• It doesn’t snow often and, when it does, it usually doesn’t snow much

• Stable, stagnant conditions inhibit ablation (ice -> vapor)

• Fog/low clouds reflect water cycling: ice-> vapor -> cloud -> snow via deposition/riming

• Albedo can remain high due to metamorphism of snow pack over time

• Complex chemistry happening with ozone precursors in the snow pack

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Photo: Erik Crosman

What If? Simulation of Mean Afternoon Ozone 1100 - 1700 LST 1-6 February 2013

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SNOW NO SNOW

2.6

3.0

2.2

1.8

2.4

2.8

2.0

1.6

Heig

ht (k

m)

1.4

1.2

2.6

3.0

2.2

1.8

2.4

2.8

2.0

1.6

Heig

ht (k

m)

1.4

1.2

100908030 40 50 7060ppb

- Ozone concentrations notably higher in numerical simulation with SNOW cover

- From Neemann, Crosman, Horel, Avey (2014)

Wasatch

Green River

Wasatch

Green River


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Takeaway Points• Oil and gas production is large and

growing• Production releases particulates and

array of gases • When snow on ground and stable

atmosphere, ozone generated photo-chemically and trapped near ground

• Key unknowns:• Emissions• Role of ozone precursor gases, such

as nitrous acid and formaldehyde







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Developing Control Strategies• Episodic or seasonal controls may be

appropriate for winter ozone concerns• Emission reductions at Bonanza power

plant are unlikely to have any effect on winter ozone episodes

• Reductions in all VOC emissions will be beneficial

• reductions in formaldehyde and aromatic VOC will be more beneficial on a per ton basis; however, less reactive VOCs dominate emissions and ozone production

• Personal opinion: business as usual is not an option…

Uintah Basin Standard

Collaborations Involving UU• State of Utah Energy Initiatives and Imperatives Program: – Computer Modeling of Winter Ozone Formation in the

Uintah Basin– M. Mansfield (USU), J. Horel ( UU), S. Lyman (USU), J.

Hansen (BYU) (1-year project)

• NOAA: – The Uintah Basin Greenhouse Gas Study: Understanding

emissions of CO2 and CH4 from oil and gas fields– J. Lin, J. Horel, J. Ehleringer (3-year project)

Documents

2013 Uintah Basin Winter Ozone Study